Fla. Student Tasered at Kerry Speech Won't Be Charged

By: Criminal charges won?t be filed against a University of Florida student who yelled ?Don?t Tase me bro!? as he was zapped with a stun gun and arrested after his persistent questioning of Sen. John Kerry at an on-campus appearance, his attorney said Tuesday.

But Andrew Meyer, 21, wrote apologies to the Gainesville school, its president, Bernie Machen, and the campus police department, attorney Robert Griscti said.

Meyer kicked up an international spectacle last month after demanding a chance to question the former Democratic presidential candidate about the 2004 election and his and President Bush?s alleged involvement in the secret Skull and Bones society when they were students at Yale University in the 1960s. Officers rushed Meyer after he kept shouting questions, finally shocking him in a scuffle captured by at least 19 video clips.

Segments distributed online ? including Meyer?s now-famous yell ? won vast and immediate attention. The officers involved returned to work last week after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined it was an appropriate use of force.

Meyer?s letters apologize for hurting Florida?s reputation.

?I made the decision to supersede the rules, and for that I apologize,? Meyer wrote. ?I should have acted calmer and obeyed the directives of the officers. If I had, none of the subsequent issues would ever have arisen.?

However, the communications major denied allegations he intended to cause a scene, as the FDLE report suggested.

?I?m so sorry that I lost my control in that auditorium,? he wrote. ?I went there to ask an important question. The question of voter disenfranchisement in America cuts to the heart of our democracy, and my failure to act calmly resulted in this important town forum ending without the discourse intended. For that, I am truly sorry.?

Prosecutors had no immediate comment; the State Attorney?s Office in Alachua County was not scheduled to open until 8:30 a.m.

University police had recommended Meyer be charged with resisting arrest with violence, a felony, and disturbing the peace and interfering with school administrative functions, a misdemeanor.

The Kerry event Sept. 17 was supposed to last 90 minutes ? split evenly between the senator?s speech, the moderator?s interview and audience questions. Meyer was one of several still waiting to talk when time ran out.

He loudly demanded to be heard, and officers approached. They backed off when Kerry said he?d answer Meyer?s questions, but the student launched into a diatribe about why Kerry didn?t challenge his 2004 loss to Bush and why the president hasn?t been impeached. Event organizers cut Meyer?s microphone when he said former President Clinton was impeached for getting oral sex.

Police grabbed Meyer to escort him out, but he flailed and slipped their grasp. He allegedly grabbed an auditorium seat at one point so he couldn?t be moved.

Officers had him on the ground, but Meyer kept struggling. He was zapped with the Taser just after asking not to be.

Police said Meyer?s tone changed instantly when he stepped into the patrol car. He was recorded telling the officers they didn?t do anything wrong, according to the FDLE report, and sounded pleased about the arrest in a jailhouse phone call.

While Meyer acknowledged fault, Griscti said he still thought the Taser was unnecessary. He said the student remained surprised by the continued attention.

?We have not made a statement in the media for six seeks, with the exception of last week,? Griscti said, referencing a brief news release in response to the FDLE report. ?We have not been feeding this; it?s got a life of its own. That?s the reality, and it?s to the surprise of everyone involved.?

Meyer said he was taking a leave of absence but would return to school in January. He pledged to Machen, the Florida president, he learned from the incident.

?I am a far more reasoned individual than I was a short while ago, and the reasoned response of the university has helped me a great deal,? Meyer wrote.